Thanks to a grant from Recompense, the Chebeague United Methodist Church has been going through a visioning process. Last year we adopted six core values (Community, Fellowship, Rootedness, Creativity, Inclusivity, and Innovation - read more at our website: http://www.chebeagueumc.org/core-values.html). This year, we are looking to finalize our vision and mission statement.

Chebeague United Methodist Church may be institutionally connected with the United Methodist denomination, however, we take seriously the fact that we are the only church on the island. We know that many who worship with us come from a wide range of backgrounds – Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational – to name a few. We also know that many who come to worship are still seeking a spiritual connection and are questioning what faith might mean in their lives. We believe that all can find a welcome in our congregation, that worship can be a place that unites us, and that together we might find joy in fellowship with one another and fellowship with God. In this spirit, we also recommend that the Chebeague United Methodist Church begin the process of becoming a reconciling congregation.

In that light, we feel called to live into that sense of fellowship and connection more fully. A vision statement is what we are working toward together. Our vision for CUMC is: To be a people of diverse traditions who welcome, worship, serve, and find joy together.

To get to this place, we have to let people know that we are a place that they can be welcome. With so many new people moving to this island, we believe it is important to get know our neighbors and form community with them. Therefore, our mission (the way we achieve our vision) is:Mission: To know and work with our neighbors as we grow in God's love together.

Our mission statement is fulfilled in many ways and include (but are not limited to): worship, Bible or book studies, fellowship events, service projects, and hosting learning events for the island. We pray for one another with our community Prayer List. We study together with Sunday School and our morning Bible Study. But this mission statement also opens the doors to future ministry opportunities: welcoming new islanders, going on retreat together, hosting church dinners or game nights at the Parish House, and so much more.